Annealing and case forming questions

[oconeedan]

Hmmm, that's an idea. I have o-ring kits, I wonder if any are thin enough to work? Thanks for the idea.

[GregLaROCHE]

Make sure the firing pin is in good shape and long enough.

[oconeedan]

O-rings too thick.
Greg, the firing pin is perfect and protrudes very well. But good thing to check, thank you. I think the firing pin spring is OK, but I will replace it if I need to. And everything moves freely in the bolt.

[oconeedan]

Today I was able to fire the old M71 for the first time! Yesterday was a no-go, the brass was not fire formed and was moving forward at the strike of the firing pin, resulting in light strike.
Today, I found little O-rings and put on every cartridge at the front of the rim, which would force the brass to sit on the bolt face. Closing the bolt was difficult, but possible. I ended up with 21 fire formed brass, the they should fit well from now on.
The 4 I tried yesterday, with light firing pin strikes, would not fire. I assume the inner of the primer was damaged in some way from the light strike. I will have to pull apart, and reload with new primers, use the O-rings, and fire form.
Accuracy was poor, but I didn't expect any more. With fire formed brass, it should improve. I would love to try powder coated bullets, which would add a few thousands diameter, but I think it will bulge the brass and not chamber.
I used Ballistol, that stuff stinks. I think chicken coops smell better.
I had to clean every other shot, as the brass was allowing residue to build up on chamber walls. Could not load and fire more than 2 without great difficulty. My blow tube did not help. Again, fire formed brass should help this problem.
If it were that much work all the time, I wouldn't stick with it. But it should be easier now with formed brass.
Oh yeah, I used air cooled wheel weights, I don't know the hardness but it is fairly soft and can be scratched with thumb nail. Do you think I should try cutting WW with pure lead?

[upnorthwis]

Do you think I should try cutting WW with pure lead?

I run mine with 50/50 WW/Pb. Seems to work fairly well, as in no leading and the same accuracy.